Wiki post 7 -
Due Monday, May 7. Please post your best draft so far of the introduction to your research paper. Wiki 7 - Page 2
Workplace discrimination is a complex matter that has changed greatly since the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 has done a lot to increase work place equality in regards to race. While a lot of progress has been made there are still steps that need to be taken to lessen the racial inequality gap in the workplace. (Heather Poochigian)
Crime is something that is part of our society. It can stem from a variety of complex issues such as poverty, race, class, ignorance, and demographic factors. Hate crimes are just one type of crimes that affects our society. “Hate crimes are 'crimes that manifest evidence of prejudice based on race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or ethnicity'(DOJ & FBI, 2004)”(Ryan & Leeson, 2011). These crimes tend to be more violent and more serious than non-hate crimes. Some evidence links economic factors and demographic factors as the major components of hate crimes in society. Furthermore, hate groups tend to blamed for a majority of hate crimes committed. Research believes hate groups are not the main contributor to these violent crimes, while other research links the crimes using the “Seven Stage Hate Model”. Most research done on hate crimes are statistically measured with limitations. The major limitation in these statistical measures is the psychological reasons behind the crimes. Race does remain to be the leading factor in hate crimes, and the violence is more pertinent to the offender's psychological pain rather than the actual victim. [Amy Tucker]
Although improvements have been seen in health care quality and some disparities have been reduced or eliminated, differences persist in health care quality among members of various racial and ethnic minority groups (2008, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality). America today consists of different races and ethnicities, for which healthcare does not consider the complexity of its communities. Stephen Thomas, director of the Center of Minority Health at the University of Pittsburgh elaborates by stating, “ Healthcare programs provide a cookbook, Asians are like this, Hispanics are like this, Native Americans like this, and African Americans are like that.” (2009, WPSU). Keith Whitfield associate professor of Biobehavioral Health at Penn State adds by stating, “Compliances are very stereotypical and not individual based, there based on social and demographic characteristics that are so far above the individual that their dealing with are, and then they don’t get the best treatment.” (2009, WPSU). For many racial groups barriers exist in accessing adequate health care via income, health insurance policies and coverage, demographic location, language barriers, and resources.
(Jodi Gongora).
Class and race analysis of hate crimes and white supremacy can vary. Hate crimes are not always race specific but groups behind them tend to be. Hate crimes and white supremacy still exist in America today. Most people assume because slavery was abolished in 1865 the issue is not there. Or because we had the civil rights movement in the 1960s that people don’t still discriminate against certain races. Well in both instances the answer is no. These hate groups do still exist and are active in our communities today. Research and analysis are included of hate crimes happening today, and show that they are still active in our communities. All of the hateful acts prove that racism continues to exist, however society today is less certain and educated as to what it means today. America has made progress since then, but we’re taking two steps back by not addressing these issues. Hate crimes send messages to certain ethno culture, religious, or other certain groups that they are not welcome and are unsafe in certain communities. Federal laws do not go far enough to protect these victims from their attackers. Tougher laws are needed to put an end to these groups aggressive behavior. Before we acknowledge what is present, its good to reflect on where we started with hate crimes.
(Katie Crane)
Americans appear to have considerable tolerance for income inequality and are content in their perceived knowledge that those who are poor today will be rich tomorrow. I'm sure a lot of poor people today wish that were true, but there is a lot of time and effort that must go into making that statement true. When you think of social class, you think economic status, financial stability, welfare, family size, housing and location of housing, etc. The decrease in family size doesn't mean there is an increase in income. Actually it is reversed because the decrease in family size normally means you are living within a single parent household, thereby cutting the income in half. African-American women are said to be at the highest risk of raising children alone, therefore keeping them in poverty. (Roe Turner)
We, as citizens of the United States grant certain power to selected individuals to uphold the law, and to ensure law and order is obtained throughout the Country. These certain powers fluctuate from a wide range of responsibilities that Police Officers are sworn to abide under any circumstances. Police Officers are expected to protect and serve their community from any domestic affairs; while at the same time protecting an individual of their natural rights (life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness). One thing the public should realize is that Police Officers are only human and they will make mistakes. Police brutality is an inevitable part of life in law enforcement and it is going to continue to occur until this Country makes some serious changes in society. Police brutality and racial profiling is a constant battle between law enforcement and minorities in this Country. Police officers use an illegal tactic known as racial profiling to apprehend these individuals. “Many profiling victims walk away with traffic tickets, but too often for others the outcome of racial profiling is death.” (p 22) The case of Jonny Gammage, and Timothy Thomas, are only stories of African-Americans who fall victims to this illegal practice. Racial profiling is an illegal tactic practiced by numerous Police Officers in the United States that is rooted back to societal issues in an attempt to keep minorities at down. (Enrique Silva)
Since power has been established there has been the abuse of power that is geared towards police brutality. One of the most common types of abuse of power today is that of police brutality. Police brutality is just a form of police misconduct that has been happening for years. Another form of police misconduct that seems to be popular among police officers is racial profiling. What tends to be frequent within these two types of police misconduct is that they usually happen in poor neighborhoods to the lower class. Why is the relationship between police misconduct and poor neighborhoods so strong? The lower classes of society who are struggling to fight out of poverty make for an easy target for racial profiling. Neighborhoods are considered a poor neighborhood when they have a concentration of poverty. Poverty is something that does not only affect one person but may affect anyone. Poverty does not see race, class nor does it discriminate. Poor neighborhoods bring not only a low standard of living but also high wave of crimes. In order to combat the high rates of crime that poverty brings, police officers frequently patrol these neighborhoods. It is common to see that some police officers often profile people by their race, class, or financial situation. (CHRIS PARK)
Police Brutality
A five point metal star pinned to a padded black leather fold attracts light, blinding your eyes from truth. The badge can be a beacon of hope; security, trust or it can be a mask of fear you hide from. For established citizens the badge portrays safety and is only a phone call away. Police officers are considered our protectors but do they protect everyone? Racial profiling and class discrimination is key when solving a crime but it can also be used in false pretense. The media plays a vital role in manipulating and influencing our way of thinking. It continues to reiterate the differences between minority and civilized neighborhoods through televised programs. The media does a poor job of televising the areas of concentrated poverty in a clearer and truthful light. But we cannot point fingers with out looking at the strings that lead to the incident. The Police being a closed nit family make it very possible to withhold information that can damage the credibility of another officer. Areas filled with minorities and poverty are left this way because society fails to stand up and take recognition. It is the duty of police officers to provide the same security and sense of urgency within minority neighborhoods as they do in their own part of town. Researchers reveal polls on how whites and minorities feel toward police involvement, and the sense of security that comes with it.
TASHA BOYD---
Historically, major metropolitan areas have been the archetype for a melting pot of immigrants, leading to an ethnically diverse population. In the past, these cityscapes amassed a divide of cultures and races wherein a palpable compartmentalization of class and pedigree outlined districts more so than municipal mapping. Patterns of segregation were most discernible in these metropolitan areas, notably during the influx of immigrants in the major cities of the U.S. from the mid-eighteenth century on. Though still prevalent in modern America, pattern segregation is not as ardent as it once was. The use of racial divides as district lines are archaic discriminatory tools no longer tolerated in modern towns and cities of the U.S. Ethnic diversity in small local communities have become a staple in the United States. However, recent developments in small rural exurbs, typically in the south, are producing a design of segregation similar to that of metropolitan regions in early America. Using municipal sanctions to annex areas of racial diversity, these small rural towns are effectively creating a modern form of discrimination akin to past practices of segregation. This cultural reciprocity to a community structure wherein racial apartheid exists for the sake of social and political control, results in the manipulation of municipal tools, land use policies, racial gerrymandering, and the inevitable annexation of low income non-white ethnic communities within small rural southern towns.
- Ken Cadiente
Shortly after slavery was abolished, in 1865, began the movement of White supremacy/ hate crimes still happening to this day in the U.S. “ Why do black and most racial minorities lag behind whites in terms of income, wealth, occupational and health status, educational and other relevant social indicators?”(Owen, pg. 1) It is hard to fathom that one group can be so cruel and violent to another human being. Today hate crimes are still rampant across the United States. Since we live in such a diverse country it becomes to be harder for some regions to accept the fact we are not all of the same race and culture. The evolution of hate crimes seems to stem from the fear each race has that the other will take it down. It appears that there are different ideas as to why such violence has and continues to occur. Overall, white supremacists draw on many underlying problems and economic insecurities, which are still fueling the racial divide. (Alina Abbate)
Why is criminal behavior racialized? Can the actions of one individual predict the actions of another simply because they are of the same race? Criminal profiling has become increasingly under fire for its use of racialization to zone in on potential offenders. Racialization is “the practice of extending racial typologies to an understanding of cultures, temperaments, motives, responses, and behaviors” (Covington, 548). This means that society is stereotyping behaviors based on race. Criminal behavior is being classified to certain races that are expected to commit these particular crimes most often. However, this is an unjust and biased practice. A better understanding of criminal activity is due to class differences rather than racial differences. An individual’s socioeconomic status and their living environments may play a larger role in their behavior than simply relying on their race. Two individuals of different races may have very similar experiences and be willing to commit similar crimes due to their parallel backgrounds. Two individuals of the same race may not be willing to partake in the same activities. Race does not explain motive. Without an understanding of “whiteness” one cannot try to explain criminal activity by what society deems “blackness”; race cannot be reduced to stereotypical actions. A single race does not coincide with power; power and status remain with the majority. However, power can change within a society, and roles may be reversed. Inaccurate and unwarranted racial profiling is due to a lack of understanding of class, power, and cultural differences. (Nicole Peck)
Throughout history the family you were born into, your beliefs, how you choose to practice them and even the color of your skin has determined how society treats you. Even though these ideas are ignorant and discriminatory they still take place today. Hate groups are organizations of individuals whose “beliefs or practices attack or malign an entire class of people, typically for their immutable characteristics,” (Young 2008). Hate groups are spreading and becoming more and more popular due to technology and the internet making membership and information more accessible. (Young 2008) Movements for equality like the Civil Rights Movement are overshadowed today by the rising rates of hate groups committing hate crimes. The United States Department of Justice defines hate crime as, “The violence of intolerance and bigotry, intended to hurt and intimidate someone because of their race, ethnicity, national origin, religious, sexual orientation or disability. The purvey of hate use explosives, arson, weapons, vandalism, physical violence, and verbal threats of violence to instill fear in their victims, leaving them vulnerable to more at tacks and feeling alienated, helpless, suspicious and fearful. (Ardley 2005) One of the oldest and most popular hate groups are white supremacy groups. African Americans still remain by far the most victimized by hate crimes out of all groups. Analyzing the development of white supremacy groups and looking at their philosophies, motives and the insecurities that fuel their racial prejudice will help us further understand the reasoning behind these violent acts. With such violent hate groups on the rise it only seems logical to try and understand and comprehend what started and drives such behaviors in order to prevent them in the future. (Sarah Pino)
The actual term “hate crime” initially came about around the late 1980s. However, hate crimes have been committed all throughout history. The term was initially used to understand a racial event that occurred in New York City, in which a Black man was killed when trying to avoid a cruel and violent mob of young individuals who were yelling racial slurs toward him (Levin and McDevitt, 2008). Even though the term “hate crime” is extensively used by, the society, the media, the government, and the researchers within the field, it is often times misleading, due to the fact that it incorrectly assumes that hatred is a primary feature of this type of crime. However, there are several other characteristics to arise when dealing with types of criminal acts toward people, such as, elements of prejudice and inequality within race, culture, ethnicity, religion, gender, and class differences. As defined by Levin and McDevitt (2008) hate crimes are “criminal offenses motivated either entirely or in part by the fact or perception that a victim is different from the perpetrator.” It is shown through extensive study that the relationship between discrimination and wrongful behaviors tends to be extremely intricate. Therefore, there are many questions that must be answered in order to better understand this complicated relationship of inequality among race, culture, class, and crime. First and foremost the questions that needs to be explored pertain to the important reason as to why people commit hate crimes, what is the emotional damage resulted from hate crimes, and how does the economy play a part. (Jennifer Landers)
Social class differences are still occurring through out the years. The upper class consists mostly of whites, while the minority groups consist of Blacks, Mexicans, Asians, and others. America is a place where people come to fulfill a dream, but also where certain norms need to be followed in order to accomplish this goal. Accomplishing this goal can become very difficult in a society that doesn’t have equal access to institutionalize means to achieve success. Certain groups like Mexicans who don’t know the English language, find the road to education and good jobs blocked, because they don’t have the high skills needed for fulfilling these positions. All of this inequality between the more advantaged and the less advantaged creates strain amongst those groups who cannot climb the ladder. Those who become strained start to feel like there is no need to abide by the norms if these norms do not get them anywhere. Groups who cannot succeed in America need to look for other ways to achieve their goals; they soon get involved in illegal actions, which lead to deviance. Deviance has to do with people violating a certain norm, when this happens there has to be some form of social control and that’s where police come in to control crime. Police are used to control crime, but certain ways that police control crime can be unethical, and racially prejudice which is also known as police brutality, and unnecessary force.(Guillermina Hernandez)
Building housing projects in inner cities across theUnited Statesprovided housing to people of color who, due to oppressive Jim Crowe laws, were not permitted to live in white neighborhoods and were rarely able to buy homes. At the passing of the Civil Rights Act, segregating housing racially became unconstitutional. With the sweet taste of equality on their tongues, families who were financially able to move from the inner city to the primarily white suburbs did so as soon as possible “…leaving behind the vulnerable and the desperate to fill the vacuum created by the exodus” (Perkins, 2007 p. 76). Those who left were the educated professionals. As they left they took most of the community’s economic resources with them. The mostly African American remnants were the poorest of the poor who no longer had successful people as neighbors and role models. Gang activity and abuse of alcohol and drugs became rampant as a result. (Phillips, 1996 p. 56) While color can no longer legally bar a person from living where they please, one must have access to sufficient resources for this social advancement to be a truly relevant factor. Ghettos are often the only places people in poverty can afford to live. Lack of resources disallows many people from pushing through the waste products of past discrimination and building a better life.(Chantelle Schneider)
According to Keren Glover (1999) , "racial profiling" is defined as the biased practice by law enforcement officials of which tend to target individuals for suspicion of crime based on the individual's race, ethnicity, religion or national origin. On a daily bases racial profiled victims walk away with traffic tickets, but often times death is the outcome of racial profiling. These individuals are stopped regularly by law enforcement without reasonable cause. "Driving While Black/Brown" is a type of racial profiling that has received an extensive amount of media coverage. Not only do Black and Latino receive a great deal of profiling while driving, they also encounter it as pedestrians. An example of this will be an African American man by the name of Rodney king. In the following paragraphs: police subculture, profiling, affect on society, and Rodney King will be thoroughly discussed. (Jerry Brown)
Throughout history the justice system has treated minorities unfairly. Initially, the law supported slavery which branded Africans Americans as property to white families. By law, people of African ancestry were innately inferior and whites could legally exploit them for labor and treat them inhumanely. In 1865, amendments to the bill of rights finally ended slavery and granted equality for all races. However, rules and regulations such as the Jim Crow Laws continued to oppress African Americans. For example, the “separate but equal” forced African Americans to use separate public facilities such as schools, stores, restaurants, transportation, and restrooms but these low quality facilities received less funding than the white facilities. Racism is still evident in the American Justice System as shown through overrepresentation of minorities in the juvenile and adult justice systems, longer sentences and more death penalties for minorities, and in rules and regulations that can enable racism even though they are intended to protect the citizens of the nation. (Patricia Perez)
Is it okay that just because of the color of your skin you have to feel like a person who does not belong in this world, or do not deserve great things in life? People of color are still not treated equally in today’s world. There are so many ways to make changes in the world to where everyone is equal and not discriminated against. African Americans in the 1960’s to present day continue to experience racial inequalities when it comes to jobs, health care, and education because of their social class, and ethnicity. There are many areas that touch on these things in the African American community. Sometimes it seems that inequality is slowly going away but then again it seems that it’s also coming back at the same time.(Monique Tolbert)
As a Hmong woman, and a first-generation child I learned at a young age how amazing and challenging it is to be Hmong. Growing up, I’ve seen and learned first-hand of the hardships my parents have gone through to make it in this country. Hmong people, like many immigrants, have learned to assimilate into the American culture while still being a part of the Hmong culture. Hmong people who immigrated to America relied heavily on each other to learn the trades and what it took to be a part of America. At first there was a struggle because of the language barriers, but Hmong people knew that America was the land of opportunity and therefore worked hard to learn the language in order flourish in the American society. They worked hard to learn the laws of the United States of America, and they learned how to raise their own children so that the children can grow up and become a part of America. The purpose of this study is to describe Hmong experiences in the U.S. throughout the years from which they have migrated. In which, the study would be geared towards the Hmong’s experience of becoming an American, their assimilation into the American culture, the changes and improvements in the community that they had, and the concerns of today. (Mai Cha)
Due Monday, May 7. Please post your best draft so far of the introduction to your research paper.
Wiki 7 - Page 2
Workplace discrimination is a complex matter that has changed greatly since the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 has done a lot to increase work place equality in regards to race. While a lot of progress has been made there are still steps that need to be taken to lessen the racial inequality gap in the workplace. (Heather Poochigian)
Crime is something that is part of our society. It can stem from a variety of complex issues such as poverty, race, class, ignorance, and demographic factors. Hate crimes are just one type of crimes that affects our society. “Hate crimes are 'crimes that manifest evidence of prejudice based on race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or ethnicity'(DOJ & FBI, 2004)”(Ryan & Leeson, 2011). These crimes tend to be more violent and more serious than non-hate crimes. Some evidence links economic factors and demographic factors as the major components of hate crimes in society. Furthermore, hate groups tend to blamed for a majority of hate crimes committed. Research believes hate groups are not the main contributor to these violent crimes, while other research links the crimes using the “Seven Stage Hate Model”. Most research done on hate crimes are statistically measured with limitations. The major limitation in these statistical measures is the psychological reasons behind the crimes. Race does remain to be the leading factor in hate crimes, and the violence is more pertinent to the offender's psychological pain rather than the actual victim.
[Amy Tucker]
Although improvements have been seen in health care quality and some disparities have been reduced or eliminated, differences persist in health care quality among members of various racial and ethnic minority groups (2008, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality). America today consists of different races and ethnicities, for which healthcare does not consider the complexity of its communities. Stephen Thomas, director of the Center of Minority Health at the University of Pittsburgh elaborates by stating, “ Healthcare programs provide a cookbook, Asians are like this, Hispanics are like this, Native Americans like this, and African Americans are like that.” (2009, WPSU). Keith Whitfield associate professor of Biobehavioral Health at Penn State adds by stating, “Compliances are very stereotypical and not individual based, there based on social and demographic characteristics that are so far above the individual that their dealing with are, and then they don’t get the best treatment.” (2009, WPSU). For many racial groups barriers exist in accessing adequate health care via income, health insurance policies and coverage, demographic location, language barriers, and resources.
(Jodi Gongora).
Class and race analysis of hate crimes and white supremacy can vary. Hate crimes are not always race specific but groups behind them tend to be. Hate crimes and white supremacy still exist in America today. Most people assume because slavery was abolished in 1865 the issue is not there. Or because we had the civil rights movement in the 1960s that people don’t still discriminate against certain races. Well in both instances the answer is no. These hate groups do still exist and are active in our communities today. Research and analysis are included of hate crimes happening today, and show that they are still active in our communities. All of the hateful acts prove that racism continues to exist, however society today is less certain and educated as to what it means today. America has made progress since then, but we’re taking two steps back by not addressing these issues. Hate crimes send messages to certain ethno culture, religious, or other certain groups that they are not welcome and are unsafe in certain communities. Federal laws do not go far enough to protect these victims from their attackers. Tougher laws are needed to put an end to these groups aggressive behavior. Before we acknowledge what is present, its good to reflect on where we started with hate crimes.
(Katie Crane)
Americans appear to have considerable tolerance for income inequality and are content in their perceived knowledge that those who are poor today will be rich tomorrow. I'm sure a lot of poor people today wish that were true, but there is a lot of time and effort that must go into making that statement true. When you think of social class, you think economic status, financial stability, welfare, family size, housing and location of housing, etc. The decrease in family size doesn't mean there is an increase in income. Actually it is reversed because the decrease in family size normally means you are living within a single parent household, thereby cutting the income in half. African-American women are said to be at the highest risk of raising children alone, therefore keeping them in poverty. (Roe Turner)
We, as citizens of the United States grant certain power to selected individuals to uphold the law, and to ensure law and order is obtained throughout the Country. These certain powers fluctuate from a wide range of responsibilities that Police Officers are sworn to abide under any circumstances. Police Officers are expected to protect and serve their community from any domestic affairs; while at the same time protecting an individual of their natural rights (life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness). One thing the public should realize is that Police Officers are only human and they will make mistakes. Police brutality is an inevitable part of life in law enforcement and it is going to continue to occur until this Country makes some serious changes in society. Police brutality and racial profiling is a constant battle between law enforcement and minorities in this Country. Police officers use an illegal tactic known as racial profiling to apprehend these individuals. “Many profiling victims walk away with traffic tickets, but too often for others the outcome of racial profiling is death.” (p 22) The case of Jonny Gammage, and Timothy Thomas, are only stories of African-Americans who fall victims to this illegal practice. Racial profiling is an illegal tactic practiced by numerous Police Officers in the United States that is rooted back to societal issues in an attempt to keep minorities at down. (Enrique Silva)
Since power has been established there has been the abuse of power that is geared towards police brutality. One of the most common types of abuse of power today is that of police brutality. Police brutality is just a form of police misconduct that has been happening for years. Another form of police misconduct that seems to be popular among police officers is racial profiling. What tends to be frequent within these two types of police misconduct is that they usually happen in poor neighborhoods to the lower class. Why is the relationship between police misconduct and poor neighborhoods so strong? The lower classes of society who are struggling to fight out of poverty make for an easy target for racial profiling. Neighborhoods are considered a poor neighborhood when they have a concentration of poverty. Poverty is something that does not only affect one person but may affect anyone. Poverty does not see race, class nor does it discriminate. Poor neighborhoods bring not only a low standard of living but also high wave of crimes. In order to combat the high rates of crime that poverty brings, police officers frequently patrol these neighborhoods. It is common to see that some police officers often profile people by their race, class, or financial situation. (CHRIS PARK)
Police Brutality
A five point metal star pinned to a padded black leather fold attracts light, blinding your eyes from truth. The badge can be a beacon of hope; security, trust or it can be a mask of fear you hide from. For established citizens the badge portrays safety and is only a phone call away. Police officers are considered our protectors but do they protect everyone? Racial profiling and class discrimination is key when solving a crime but it can also be used in false pretense. The media plays a vital role in manipulating and influencing our way of thinking. It continues to reiterate the differences between minority and civilized neighborhoods through televised programs. The media does a poor job of televising the areas of concentrated poverty in a clearer and truthful light. But we cannot point fingers with out looking at the strings that lead to the incident. The Police being a closed nit family make it very possible to withhold information that can damage the credibility of another officer. Areas filled with minorities and poverty are left this way because society fails to stand up and take recognition. It is the duty of police officers to provide the same security and sense of urgency within minority neighborhoods as they do in their own part of town. Researchers reveal polls on how whites and minorities feel toward police involvement, and the sense of security that comes with it.
TASHA BOYD---
Historically, major metropolitan areas have been the archetype for a melting pot of immigrants, leading to an ethnically diverse population. In the past, these cityscapes amassed a divide of cultures and races wherein a palpable compartmentalization of class and pedigree outlined districts more so than municipal mapping. Patterns of segregation were most discernible in these metropolitan areas, notably during the influx of immigrants in the major cities of the U.S. from the mid-eighteenth century on. Though still prevalent in modern America, pattern segregation is not as ardent as it once was. The use of racial divides as district lines are archaic discriminatory tools no longer tolerated in modern towns and cities of the U.S. Ethnic diversity in small local communities have become a staple in the United States. However, recent developments in small rural exurbs, typically in the south, are producing a design of segregation similar to that of metropolitan regions in early America. Using municipal sanctions to annex areas of racial diversity, these small rural towns are effectively creating a modern form of discrimination akin to past practices of segregation. This cultural reciprocity to a community structure wherein racial apartheid exists for the sake of social and political control, results in the manipulation of municipal tools, land use policies, racial gerrymandering, and the inevitable annexation of low income non-white ethnic communities within small rural southern towns.
- Ken Cadiente
Shortly after slavery was abolished, in 1865, began the movement of White supremacy/ hate crimes still happening to this day in the U.S. “ Why do black and most racial minorities lag behind whites in terms of income, wealth, occupational and health status, educational and other relevant social indicators?”(Owen, pg. 1) It is hard to fathom that one group can be so cruel and violent to another human being. Today hate crimes are still rampant across the United States. Since we live in such a diverse country it becomes to be harder for some regions to accept the fact we are not all of the same race and culture. The evolution of hate crimes seems to stem from the fear each race has that the other will take it down. It appears that there are different ideas as to why such violence has and continues to occur. Overall, white supremacists draw on many underlying problems and economic insecurities, which are still fueling the racial divide. (Alina Abbate)
Why is criminal behavior racialized? Can the actions of one individual predict the actions of another simply because they are of the same race? Criminal profiling has become increasingly under fire for its use of racialization to zone in on potential offenders. Racialization is “the practice of extending racial typologies to an understanding of cultures, temperaments, motives, responses, and behaviors” (Covington, 548). This means that society is stereotyping behaviors based on race. Criminal behavior is being classified to certain races that are expected to commit these particular crimes most often. However, this is an unjust and biased practice. A better understanding of criminal activity is due to class differences rather than racial differences. An individual’s socioeconomic status and their living environments may play a larger role in their behavior than simply relying on their race. Two individuals of different races may have very similar experiences and be willing to commit similar crimes due to their parallel backgrounds. Two individuals of the same race may not be willing to partake in the same activities. Race does not explain motive. Without an understanding of “whiteness” one cannot try to explain criminal activity by what society deems “blackness”; race cannot be reduced to stereotypical actions. A single race does not coincide with power; power and status remain with the majority. However, power can change within a society, and roles may be reversed. Inaccurate and unwarranted racial profiling is due to a lack of understanding of class, power, and cultural differences. (Nicole Peck)
Throughout history the family you were born into, your beliefs, how you choose to practice them and even the color of your skin has determined how society treats you. Even though these ideas are ignorant and discriminatory they still take place today. Hate groups are organizations of individuals whose “beliefs or practices attack or malign an entire class of people, typically for their immutable characteristics,” (Young 2008). Hate groups are spreading and becoming more and more popular due to technology and the internet making membership and information more accessible. (Young 2008) Movements for equality like the Civil Rights Movement are overshadowed today by the rising rates of hate groups committing hate crimes. The United States Department of Justice defines hate crime as, “The violence of intolerance and bigotry, intended to hurt and intimidate someone because of their race, ethnicity, national origin, religious, sexual orientation or disability. The purvey of hate use explosives, arson, weapons, vandalism, physical violence, and verbal threats of violence to instill fear in their victims, leaving them vulnerable to more at tacks and feeling alienated, helpless, suspicious and fearful. (Ardley 2005) One of the oldest and most popular hate groups are white supremacy groups. African Americans still remain by far the most victimized by hate crimes out of all groups. Analyzing the development of white supremacy groups and looking at their philosophies, motives and the insecurities that fuel their racial prejudice will help us further understand the reasoning behind these violent acts. With such violent hate groups on the rise it only seems logical to try and understand and comprehend what started and drives such behaviors in order to prevent them in the future. (Sarah Pino)
The actual term “hate crime” initially came about around the late 1980s. However, hate crimes have been committed all throughout history. The term was initially used to understand a racial event that occurred in New York City, in which a Black man was killed when trying to avoid a cruel and violent mob of young individuals who were yelling racial slurs toward him (Levin and McDevitt, 2008). Even though the term “hate crime” is extensively used by, the society, the media, the government, and the researchers within the field, it is often times misleading, due to the fact that it incorrectly assumes that hatred is a primary feature of this type of crime. However, there are several other characteristics to arise when dealing with types of criminal acts toward people, such as, elements of prejudice and inequality within race, culture, ethnicity, religion, gender, and class differences. As defined by Levin and McDevitt (2008) hate crimes are “criminal offenses motivated either entirely or in part by the fact or perception that a victim is different from the perpetrator.” It is shown through extensive study that the relationship between discrimination and wrongful behaviors tends to be extremely intricate. Therefore, there are many questions that must be answered in order to better understand this complicated relationship of inequality among race, culture, class, and crime. First and foremost the questions that needs to be explored pertain to the important reason as to why people commit hate crimes, what is the emotional damage resulted from hate crimes, and how does the economy play a part. (Jennifer Landers)
Social class differences are still occurring through out the years. The upper class consists mostly of whites, while the minority groups consist of Blacks, Mexicans, Asians, and others. America is a place where people come to fulfill a dream, but also where certain norms need to be followed in order to accomplish this goal. Accomplishing this goal can become very difficult in a society that doesn’t have equal access to institutionalize means to achieve success. Certain groups like Mexicans who don’t know the English language, find the road to education and good jobs blocked, because they don’t have the high skills needed for fulfilling these positions. All of this inequality between the more advantaged and the less advantaged creates strain amongst those groups who cannot climb the ladder. Those who become strained start to feel like there is no need to abide by the norms if these norms do not get them anywhere. Groups who cannot succeed in America need to look for other ways to achieve their goals; they soon get involved in illegal actions, which lead to deviance. Deviance has to do with people violating a certain norm, when this happens there has to be some form of social control and that’s where police come in to control crime. Police are used to control crime, but certain ways that police control crime can be unethical, and racially prejudice which is also known as police brutality, and unnecessary force.(Guillermina Hernandez)
Building housing projects in inner cities across theUnited Statesprovided housing to people of color who, due to oppressive Jim Crowe laws, were not permitted to live in white neighborhoods and were rarely able to buy homes. At the passing of the Civil Rights Act, segregating housing racially became unconstitutional. With the sweet taste of equality on their tongues, families who were financially able to move from the inner city to the primarily white suburbs did so as soon as possible “…leaving behind the vulnerable and the desperate to fill the vacuum created by the exodus” (Perkins, 2007 p. 76). Those who left were the educated professionals. As they left they took most of the community’s economic resources with them. The mostly African American remnants were the poorest of the poor who no longer had successful people as neighbors and role models. Gang activity and abuse of alcohol and drugs became rampant as a result. (Phillips, 1996 p. 56) While color can no longer legally bar a person from living where they please, one must have access to sufficient resources for this social advancement to be a truly relevant factor. Ghettos are often the only places people in poverty can afford to live. Lack of resources disallows many people from pushing through the waste products of past discrimination and building a better life.(Chantelle Schneider)
According to Keren Glover (1999) , "racial profiling" is defined as the biased practice by law enforcement officials of which tend to target individuals for suspicion of crime based on the individual's race, ethnicity, religion or national origin. On a daily bases racial profiled victims walk away with traffic tickets, but often times death is the outcome of racial profiling.
These individuals are stopped regularly by law enforcement without reasonable cause. "Driving While Black/Brown" is a type of racial profiling that has received an extensive amount of media coverage. Not only do Black and Latino receive a great deal of profiling while driving, they also encounter it as pedestrians. An example of this will be an African American man by the name of Rodney king. In the following paragraphs: police subculture, profiling, affect on society, and
Rodney King will be thoroughly discussed.
(Jerry Brown)
Throughout history the justice system has treated minorities unfairly. Initially, the law supported slavery which branded Africans Americans as property to white families. By law, people of African ancestry were innately inferior and whites could legally exploit them for labor and treat them inhumanely. In 1865, amendments to the bill of rights finally ended slavery and granted equality for all races. However, rules and regulations such as the Jim Crow Laws continued to oppress African Americans. For example, the “separate but equal” forced African Americans to use separate public facilities such as schools, stores, restaurants, transportation, and restrooms but these low quality facilities received less funding than the white facilities. Racism is still evident in the American Justice System as shown through overrepresentation of minorities in the juvenile and adult justice systems, longer sentences and more death penalties for minorities, and in rules and regulations that can enable racism even though they are intended to protect the citizens of the nation. (Patricia Perez)
Is it okay that just because of the color of your skin you have to feel like a person who does not belong in this world, or do not deserve great things in life? People of color are still not treated equally in today’s world. There are so many ways to make changes in the world to where everyone is equal and not discriminated against. African Americans in the 1960’s to present day continue to experience racial inequalities when it comes to jobs, health care, and education because of their social class, and ethnicity. There are many areas that touch on these things in the African American community. Sometimes it seems that inequality is slowly going away but then again it seems that it’s also coming back at the same time.(Monique Tolbert)
As a Hmong woman, and a first-generation child I learned at a young age how amazing and challenging it is to be Hmong. Growing up, I’ve seen and learned first-hand of the hardships my parents have gone through to make it in this country. Hmong people, like many immigrants, have learned to assimilate into the American culture while still being a part of the Hmong culture. Hmong people who immigrated to America relied heavily on each other to learn the trades and what it took to be a part of America. At first there was a struggle because of the language barriers, but Hmong people knew that America was the land of opportunity and therefore worked hard to learn the language in order flourish in the American society. They worked hard to learn the laws of the United States of America, and they learned how to raise their own children so that the children can grow up and become a part of America. The purpose of this study is to describe Hmong experiences in the U.S. throughout the years from which they have migrated. In which, the study would be geared towards the Hmong’s experience of becoming an American, their assimilation into the American culture, the changes and improvements in the community that they had, and the concerns of today. (Mai Cha)